Tag fastener



Feb. 11, 1936. a A FL OD mamas TAG FASTENER Filed March 7, 1934 iizw d Patented Feb. 11, 1936 UNlTE TAG FASTENER Application March 7, 1934, Serial No. 714,433

3 Claims.

This invention relates to improved devices for attaching tags or the like temporarily to articles.

It applies particularly to devices for attaching tags to fabric material, or to the string around a package, or to any object such as, for examme, a sponge or the Wire handle of a pail which may 'be impaled or encircled by a hook having a sharp end.

object of this invention is to provide a fasteher' which can be formed economically of a single length of wire, one or both ends of which arepreferably sharpened, and which normally has both ends of the wire effectively guarded to prevent such accidental contact thereof with persons or objects which might result in injury or damage.

' vent opening beyond the elastic limit of the wire,

and which may be attached conveniently to a tag after being shaped to its ultimate form from apiece of wire.

These and other objects apparent to those skilled in the art, are accomplished by means of this invention, disclosed in the accompanying drawing.

Referring to the drawing which illustrates certain embodiments of my invention:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a preferred form of fastener embodying my invention, showing a tag attached thereby to a piece of fabric.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the illustrated fastener in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a rear elevation thereof.

Figure 4 is a front elevation of the same.

Figure 5 is a side elevation showing the device open.

Figures 6 and 7 are side elevations of a modified form of the device, in closed and open positions respectively.

Figure 8 is a rear elevation of the same.

Figure 9 is a side view of another modified form of a fastener.

Figure 10 isa plan View of the fastener shown in Figure 9.

My improved fastener is made from a single length of wire which is bent into the general form of a figure 3 comprising a tag-engaging loop A and an attaching loop B.

Figure 1 shows a preferred fastener attached to a piece of fabric F and holding a tag T.

Referring to Figures 2, 3, 4, and 5, the wire which preferably has considerable spring or resilience, is first given a U-b-end as at l5 to form a pair of arms 2%! and 2i. The portions of the arms 2% and 2! adjacent to the bend l5 are approximately parallel. Beyond these adjacent portions of the arms are remote portions 22 and 23, which are bent to cross each other as at 25, then to form a closed loop 13. For this purpose, the end portion cf the extension 22 of the arm Ell is bent into a hook 25, the extremity being preferably pointed as at 26. The extension 23 of the arm 2i is bent back as at 27, the bent-back portion 28 being disposed substantial- 1y parallel to the standing portion 23 to form therewith a narrow slot or loop C extending beyond the cross it so as to receive and guide the arm 29. The extreme end portion of the part 28 may be bent as at it toward the arm 2 i, so that the end 39 is substantially in contact with the arm 2!, thus closing the loop C. The end 3i? of the wire may be sprung away from the arm 2i sufficiently to permit the arm to move into and out of the guiding loop C, the end springing back, when released, to close the loop C. When the arm 29 is clear of the loop C, a tag or the like may be threaded thereon so as to link with the loop A as shown in Figure 1. When the arm 26 enters the loop C, the loop A is thereby closed and it is then impossible for the tag to become disconnected therefrom.

To facilitate the entry of the arm 21 into the loop C, the extreme end portion adjacent to the end it may be bent to form, with the adjacent portion of the arm 2!, a guide channel 35 with converging sides. When the arm 2c is pressed laterally into this guide channel, it wedges the end at and arm 2! apart and thus enters the loop C, whereupon the end at springs back against the arm 2!. If it is desired to remove the tag from the fastener, the end 3% may be manually sprung away from the arm 2i sufliciently to permit the arm Zli to move clear of the loop C. The tag may then be slipped along the extension 22 and off the hook 25.

It is evident from Figures 1 and 2 that, when the fastener is in its normal closed position, the extremity 26 of the hook 25 bears against the bend 2? of the extension 23. The wire at the bend 55 tends to straighten to some extent, the natural set of the arms 28 and 2! being at a considerably wider angle than that indicated in Figure 2, so that these arms are under constant tension tending to press the end 26 against the bend 21. The fastener may be readily opened, as indicated in Figure 5, by pinching the arms 25) and 2| toward each other against the outward springing force of the bend l5. The extreme end portion adjacent to the end So limits the opening movement of the fastener and thus prevents such additional flexing of the bend I as might exceed the elastic limit of the wire and result in a different permanent set at that point.

The portion of the extension 23 of the arm 2| forming the upper end of the loop C at 2'! is preferably given a transverse outward bend as at 36 to form a retainer for the point end It of hook 25. Preferably this bend is of such a degree as to offset the mid-portion of bend 21, an amount equal to the diameter of the wire so that the end 26 of the hook will be between and aligned with the adjacent portions of the elements 23 and 28 when the fastener is closed. Thus the upper end portion of the loop C acts as an effective guard to prevent the sharp point 26 from catching on or injuring persons or objects when the fastener is closed.

A modification of this fastener is shown in Figures 6 and '7. This differs from the preferred fastener in the shape of the hook and the guard loop, the lower loop A being substantially similar to that shown in Figure 1. In this form of the invention, a single piece of wire is bent at as 40 to form a pair of approximately parallel arms 4| and 42 having respective extensions 43 and 44 which cross each other at 45 to form the lower loop A. The end portion of the extension 43 may be sharply bent as at 45, so that the end 41, preferably pointed, extends over to the extension 44, and thus forms a loop B. The extension 44 is bent back as at 5B, the bent-back portion 5| forming with the standing portion 44 a loop C to guide the arm 4|. The extremity of portion 5|, instead of being bent so as to close the loop C, may be curled back on itself as at 52 so as to leave the lower end of the loop C open. Tags can be more readily removed from this form of fastener than from the form shown in Figure 2, but there is nothing to prevent the arm 4| from moving out of the loop C when the arms 4| and 42 are pinched together, as in Figure '7, to open the fastener. In this form of the invention, the end 41 of the hook does not extend parallel with a portion of the loop C as in the form shown in Figure 2, but the point is disposed within the nip of the bend 50 and is, therefore, effectively guarded by the wire at this point.

Another modification of this fastener is shown in Figures 8 to 10. This includes an arm 6! extending in a straight line past the cross 62; that is, without the offset bend, to prevent the arm from elongating when subjected to an excessive pull.

The other arm 63 is bent to a greater degree as at 64 to compensate for the lack of bend in the arm BI and to cross the latter at 52. In this modification, the end of the extension of the arm 63 is shown blunt without any bend or curl, and, as in Figure 7, there is no stop to limit the opening movement of the hook arm 6 From the foregoing, it will be seen that the hook end of one arm of the fastener is retained within the guard formed at the end of the other arm and the point of the hook lies within and yieldingly abuts the bend formed near the end of said other arm, and is effectively guarded by the wire at each side of said bend.

It will also be seen that in the preferred form of the invention, movement of the hook is limited by the guard, so the hook is securely held in its proper relation to the guard and there is no possibility of it getting out of position in the ordinary use of handling.

In order that fasteners of this character may be made economically by machine, it is preferable to form the point end of the wire by shearing the Wire with a diagonally disposed cutter, in which case, each piece of the wire to be made into a fastener would have a point at both ends. Since only one point is necessary for attaching purposes, it is desirable that the other point be removed or placed in such a position as to have it guarded. This is done particularly effectively in the form shown in Figure 3, as the pointed end is not only guarded, but serves a useful purpose in forming a stop to limit the opening of the hook.

It is evident that each of the fasteners herein described can be made independently of the tag and subsequently assembled with tags. This method permits certain advantages in the manufacturing of the fasteners; for instance, the fasteners may be formed to ultimate shape in a machine and may then be put through a process of tumbling to remove all burrs formed when cutting the wire. Then, they may then be put through another process of cleaning and plating to protect the fastener against corrosion so there will be no danger of the fastener causing rust stains to fabrics with which it may be used. The fasteners may be sold as a separate commodity to be attached to a tag by the consumer.

To attach this fastener to a tag, either arm of the fastener may be inserted in the hole of the tag and the arms may then be pinched together to bring the hook arm back far enough to allow it to enter the guard loop on the other arm. When the arms are released, the hook will spring into a closed position as shown in Figure 2.

To attach the fastener and the tag to an article, the arms are pinched together to open the fastener as shown in Figure 5. Then a portion of the article is brought into the loop B and the fastener is released. In the case of fabric, a slight pull will cause the sharp point of the hook to pierce through the fabric. In the case of a cord, a pail-handle, or the like, the hook may be caught around it, then released to close the loop B. The hook will close automatically, due to the spring tension of the wire.

It should be understood that the present disclosure is for the purpose of illustration only and that this invention includes all modifications and equivalents which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A tag fastener formed of a single piece of wire, the mid portion of which is bent upon itself to form two arms, said arms crossing each other to form a loop, said arms having extensions, the extension of one arm being bent into a hook and the extension of the other arm being formed into a closed elongated loop to retain and guard said hook and to receive and guide said one arm, the end portion of said hook yieldingly abutting one end of said elongated loop, the other end of said elongated loop forming a stop for said one arm to limit the opening movement of said hook, said extensions forming with each other another loop when in abutting relation.

2. A tag fastener comprising a single piece of wire bent at its mid portion to form a pair of arms, said arms being bent to cross each other and form a loop, one of said arms having an extension beyond the cross bent back parallel With itself to form a guide slot for the other said arm, the end of said bent back portion abutting said one arm and resiliently separable therefrom to admit the other arm into the guide slot, said other arm having an extension beyond the cross bent towards the first extension into hook shape, the extremity of which engages the bent-back extension to form a second loop.

3. A tag fastener comprising a piece of Wire bent to form a pair of arms, said arms being bent to cross each other whereby the crossed portions are slidable one against the other, one said arm having an extension beyond the crossed portion bent into hook form, the other said arm having an extension beyond said crossed portion thereof bent back parallel with itself to form an end loop for the end of said hook and a guide slot for the crossed portion of the hooked arm, the extreme end portion of the bent-back element being bent towards the crossed portion of its arm and inclined toward said end loop to form a converging guide notch leading into said slot; whereby when the crossed portion of the hooked arm is pressed into said notch, the bent-back element is wedged away to permit the entry of said hooked arm into said guide slot.

CARL A. FLOOD. 

